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Baseball drill

Hat brim fly ball drill

Young players try to let a very soft tossed ball land on the brim of their cap, with no glove and hands at their sides. It makes them move their feet to get directly under a fly ball instead of reaching for it.

A young baseball player in a cap with no glove standing still under a soft foam ball dropping toward the brim, tossed by a coach
Video by Dominate The Diamond on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport
Baseball and Softball
Skill
Outfield
Ages
6U to 10U
Players
One at a time from a short line
Time
About 10 minutes
Level
Beginner
Equipment
Very soft training balls (sponge or squishy balls), Baseball or softball caps
Indoors
Yes

Young players chase fly balls with their hands. They stop short, stick the glove out and hope. The habit to build is getting the whole body under the ball first, so the catch happens right in front of the face.

In this drill the hands are not allowed to help. Players try to let a very soft ball land on the brim of their cap, which only happens if they are standing right under it. Kids laugh at the misses, which keeps it fun. It needs a bag of soft balls and caps, and it works indoors or out.

Setup

  • Every player wears a cap. No gloves.
  • Use only very soft balls, such as sponge or squishy training balls, since the ball is meant to hit the player's head.
  • The coach stands a short distance from the first player with a bucket of soft balls. The rest of the group waits in line.

How to run it

  1. The coach tosses a soft ball high toward the player.
  2. The player watches it, moves the feet, and gets directly underneath it.
  3. The player keeps the hands down at the sides and lets the ball land on the brim of the cap.
  4. The player picks up the ball, hands it back, and goes to the end of the line.
  5. Once players can do it, toss the ball a few steps to the side or in front so they have to move to it.

Coaching points

  • Move the feet to get under it. Leaning or reaching does not work.
  • Tilt the head back a little and keep the eyes on the ball all the way down.
  • Keep it light. Misses that bounce off a head are part of the fun.
  • Use only very soft balls.

Common mistakes

  • Putting the hands up to catch or bat the ball away out of habit.
  • Ducking or flinching at the last second.
  • Stopping a step short so the ball lands in front of the player.

Printable drill card

Take this drill to the field: the setup, steps, coaching points and equipment on one card, with the video's address to find it again. Free, no account needed.

Print the drill card

Smaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).

By age

Tee ball and coach pitch

Start with short, easy tosses straight overhead. Count every ball that touches the cap as a success.

10U

Toss farther away so the player has to run to the spot and be set before the ball comes down, then move on to catching the same toss with a glove.

Next: Free defensive lineup generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the hat drill safe for young kids?

Yes, with very soft balls only, such as sponge or squishy training balls. Never use a baseball, softball or even a rubber ball for this drill, since the ball is meant to land on the player's head.

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